KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia ? Rights group Amnesty International urged Malaysia on Tuesday to withdraw its invitation for Sudan President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes, or arrest him if he turns up for an economic forum.
Al-Bashir is among several African leaders who will attend the three-day forum starting Sunday in Malaysia's administrative capital Putrajaya, the Malaysian government has said.
The International Criminal Court has issued warrants of arrest to al-Bashir for allegedly orchestrating atrocities in Darfur. But the Netherlands-based court has no police force and relies on member states to execute its orders and warrants. Malaysia is not a member but announced its intention in March to join the ICC.
The Sudanese leader remains in power, rejecting the charges and the court.
London-based Amnesty said Malaysia's invitation to al-Bashir "flies in the face of its decision to join the ICC."
"Malaysia should not turn itself into a port of call for fugitives from international justice. The Malaysian government should bar Bashir from its territory and arrest him if he turns up," it said in a statement.
Malaysian government officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
Darfur was plunged into turmoil in 2003, when ethnic African rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated Sudanese government, whom they accuse of discrimination.
Al-Bashir's regime is accused of retaliating by unleashing Arab militias on civilians ? a charge the government denies. The U.N. estimates 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have been displaced in the conflict.
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